Asbestos Documentary Questions Present Day Use of the Mineral

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

On September 26th, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) will be livestreaming a documentary titled Breathtaking. A personal investigation into present day use of asbestos, the film airs at 6:30 p.m. and can be viewed at http://live.mediasocial.tv/ADAO.

Directed by Kathleen Mullen, Breathtaking exposes the asbestos industry with a look into the asbestos-related death of the filmmaker’s father, while calling into question the continued use, public mining and export of the mineral, despite evidence that it can cause mesothelioma and other serious illnesses. Once known as a wonder mineral, asbestos was commercially mined since the Industrial Revolution and used primarily for its insulation and heat resistant properties in thousands of products ranging from clothing to brake pads. Although the harmful effects of asbestos may have been known as early as the 1930s, companies still continued to use the mineral in construction and manufacturing, putting thousands of workers at risk for asbestos-related illnesses. Still today, several countries, including Russia and Canada, continue to mine the mineral and export it to developing nations in spite of scientific evidence that it can lead to a fatal illness known as mesothelioma.

With clips of her father’s legal testimony, the documentary takes the viewer on an investigative journey, traveling from India and Detroit exposing how the continued use of asbestos is affecting people throughout the world. For more information on asbestos and the 45-minute screening, please visit http://www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org. Founded by asbestos victims and their loved ones, the ADAO seeks to provide a “united voice” to asbestos victims and concerned citizens to help alert the public about the harmful effects of asbestos exposure.

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